Article dispensing system



Sept. l5, 1953 T, s. sKlLLMAN ETAL 2,652,301

ARTICLE DISPENSING SYSTEM T. s. SKILLMAN ETAL ARTICLE DISPENSING SYSTEMSept. l5, 1953 .3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 27, 1949 Sept- 15, 1953 T.s. sKlLLMAN ET/u. 2,652,301

ARTICLE DISPENSING SYSTEM Filed April 27, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGBlnvemors: Uwmas S. SlciLLman, Peter L. Law. By M Attorneys.

Patented Sept. 15, 1953 s 2,652,301 ARTICLE nIsPENsmG SYSTEM Simmel,Skilllllan, Mosman,

near Sydney,

bhw South Wales, and Peter Lincoln Law, Rose- Sydney, New South tilla,assignors toCommunioation Engineering my. Limited Cammeray, near SouthWalemAustralia,

Application April 27 Sydney, N evv a" company of Australia 194s. serialNt. 89,896

In Australia May 12, 1.9148 9 claims. (Cl. 31a- 35) The inventionrelates to article dispensing systems and more particularly to`arrangements for selecting the same kind or` article from a plurality ofbins, shelves or the like,

The invention particularly applicable to article dispensing systemsofthe character disclosed a copending application .of T. s, Skillman.Serial N 643,91@ .filed January 28.. 1946, now Patent No. 2,627.94i.February lo. 1953, to which reference is made herein,

In article dispensing systems. in which articles of various characterare stored in storage devices like shelves or bins and are selected pythe operaf tion of suitable selecting` mechanisms diii'icuities arisefrom the fact that some sinds of articles are in much greater demandthan others,

In some systerns. of this the. articles are allotted stock numbers orcodes which can he keyed up on an operatcrs panel to select the wantedarticle. other systems a separate key can be provided for each kind ofarticle to efiect the release o f this kind or article. When one of thearticles .is in great demand, the shelf or bin containing this articlewill be empty much quicker than shelves or. bins containing other kindsof articles, thus necessitating, a reeloading of the bin in rapidsuccession. A further disadvantage can be. seen in .the fact that. quiteorten a` much Wanted lsind of article cannot he dispensed loee cause the1re-loading or the bins cannot he done quickly enough, y

It is the object ci' the invention to overcome these disadvantages andto provide in article dispensing system the possibility to )sev unarticles in great demand without .interference caused hy the frequentemptying and 1re-loading ci the corresponding storage devices.

It is a .feature of the invention to allot a plurality of storagedevices to articles or the saine character. which are in great demand.and to provide arrangements whereby the selecting mechanism isautomatically switched over tronc one storage device to the next. one.when the first storage device is emplit.-

mahy .Storage devices as seein necessary can loe. connected irl thatman* ner, so that by using only one stools` nupiher or one key for onesind of article. this article will be dispensed `from a pluralityoistorage devices. thus furthermore enabling a ire-loading of. the emptystorage devices without disturbing the dow ci selected articles.

According to another restare of the invention a timing circuit isinserted which .maires the switching over iront che .storage device .tothe other storage device dependent on a. certain time delay to enablethe selecting mechanism and test.-

ing circuit to function properly-l It is another feature ci theinvention to provide arrangements whereby the selecting mechanism isautomatically switched hack to the first storage device when the laststorage device holding the saine kind. of articles has become empty.This arrangement has the further advantage that articles stored in thesestorage devices can never become stale asthe dispensing of thesearticles follows the cycle of rel-loading..

These and other lectures of the invention will be more clearlyunderstood from the following description in connection with the annexeddrawings showing one embodiment of the invention wherein: s

Fis 1 shows part oi the selecting arrangement in an article dispensingsystem.

Fis 2 shows the circuit necessary .for the automatic change-over from`one storage bin to the other,

Fig- 3 is an example of one type of storage device that may be used inthe article dispensing system.

The Figs- 1 and 2 are connected as indicated. by the leads l, 2., 3. 4.5. il, l, 8, and 9- In the circuit the detached Contact" method is usedwhereby each relay contact .is not necessarily shown next to thecorresponding relay lout wherever it vis used in the circuit. The relaysare marked with capital letters and the contacts of these relays areindicated by corresponding small letters followed by the number of theContact. All relay contacts are shown in the unoperated position- Theexample shown in the drawings gives: the circuit for dispensing threedifferent kinds of articles, One kind of article is stored only in onebin, another kind of article is stored in two bins with automaticswitch-over from one to the other, and a, third kind of article isstored in four bins with an automatic and progressive switch-over fromone loin to the next one and from the last of the four bins back to thefirst one.

It musi; be understood, however, that any num- .ber of bins can beconnected in the same rnanner depending only on the respectiverequirements.

In Fig.n 3 is shown one type of storage device with which the variousbis may be equipped. Articles II are stored on an endless belt I2. TheIbelt I2 passes around rollers I3 and I4 which are normally stationary.The roller I4 is xed to the shaft I5 which may be coupled by means of a,clutch I6,Y to a constantly running shaft I'I. The clutch I6 is engagedby an extension of the armature Il of` clutch relay ICR which alsooperates aezsaeoi veyed to a delivery point by any desired means,A

such as the conveyor belt 20.

Although in Fig. 3 only one storage device is shown, there will be onesuch -device for each bin in which articles are to be stored.

In Fig. 1 six keys,

Full connections are shown only for the first1 three keys IK, 2K and 3K,butthe other keys can be connected in the same manner; The key IK isused for the selection of articles from one bin,

IK 6K are shown' which can select six different kinds of articles.

lThe contact k2 is connected over lead 9 with the multiple units IMU and2MU (Fig. 2) respectively and does not fulfil any functions inconnection with a selection of, articles through the key .IK.\ Thecontact k3 (Fig-1) "closes another circuit for 'the 'busy' lamp BSparallel vto the contact cp3 and the contact 104 closes a circuitbypassing the contact cpI.

The `relay ICR, when operated, initiates the release of an article fromthe corresponding bin vand this -article'whi-le being discharged fromthe b'in operates under gravity for a short moment thel trip contact'ITC in the manner for example described .in r said, Skillmanapplication, thus ,breakingthe locking circuit for the relay ICR and therelay CP. Both relays thus release.

The relay ICR-cannot operate again even if the operator still keeps thekey IK depressed, because and the selecting mechanism operatingreleasing means for the corresponding bin is indicated by the relay ICR.The key 2K selects articles from two bins, the selecting mechanismsbeing shown as relays BCR and TCR. By operating the key 3K the same kindof article can be selected from four different'bins indicated by therelays 2CR, 3CR, 4CR, and 5CR. The respective switching arrangements(multiple units) for the switchingover from one bin to the other or forthe operation of four bins in rotation are shown in Fig. 2 within thedotted squares IMU and 2MU respectively.

Although in the example shown a separate key is provided for theselection of each kind of article, the circuit arrangement can be usedin the same manner when for example a key set of ten keys is used forthe selection of articles of various character, whereby each kind ofarticle is represented by a stock number or code keyed up in knownmanner on the key set.

The operation of the circuits will now be de scribed in detail:

If, for example, the key IK is pressed to release' an article from thecorresponding storage device (bin, shelf or the like) the circuit isclosed from earth over contact ICI, key IK, contact Icr, relay ICR,battery to earth. The relay ICR operates its make-before-break contactIcr which closes a locking circuit for the relay ICR over contact Icr,trip contact ITC, relay CP, contacty cI to earth. The relay CP operatesby closing its contacts cpl, e103, and cp4 and opening its contact C102(Fig. 2), thus interrupting the circuit for the slow releasing relay T,which is normally operated and only releases with a certain time delay,for example, three seconds. Thistime delay is determined by the timewhich is necessary for the safe release of an article from a selectedbin. The relay T is only used in connection with the multiple units aswill be described later. The Contact C173 (Fig. 1) closes a circuit forthe busy lamp BS to indicate to the operator that the selection is inprogress,`

and the contact cpl establishes a circuit for the relay K from earth viathe operated key IK, operated contact cpI, contact c3, relay K tobattery. The contact cpd (Fig. 2) which is connected with circuits ofthe multiple units IMU and 2MU does not fulfil any functions yet asthese multiple units IMU, 2MU are only used in connection with the keys2K and 3K as will be described later.

The relay K (Fig. 1) has four contacts. The contact cI interrupts theoperating circuit for the relay ICR which in the meantime has closed thelocking circuit for itself as described above.`

its original circuit is interrupted at the contact kl. Although throughthe release of relay CP the contactscpI and e133 are open again, thecircuits established by these contacts are kept closed by the contacts194 and'lc3 respectively as mentioned before. Thus the relay K providesthe means to prohibit the release of more than one article at a time incase the operator presses the key longer thannecessary.

As the release of an article takes less time than the de-energising ofthe slow releasing relay T (Fig. 2) the contact e102 is closed againbefore the relay T has released, so that this relay will remain in theoperated state. When the operator has released thekey IK, relay K (Fig.1)

releases as well. At contact'lcd it interrupts its own circuit, and overcontactlcl it restores earth to the various keys IK 6K. At contact k3 itopens the circuit for the busy lamp BS, thus indicating that the wholecircuit is'ready for the next selection.

In case the binis empty, so that no article falls out of the bin, ytherelay CP` remains operated as trip Contact ITC does not open. The busylamp BS remains lighted, and the operator releases the circuit bypressing the cancel key CK (Fig. 2) which closes acircuit for relay C.The relay C operates its three" break contacts cI, c2, and c3. Atcontact cI (Fig. 1) the circuit for the relays CP and ICR isinterrupted, contact c3 breaks the circuit for relay K and the contactc2 interrupts a circuit leading to the multiple units IMU and ZMU. ThisvContact is used in connection with the selection of articles from morethan one bin as will be described hereafter.

As mentioned before the key 2K is used for `the keying up of articleswhich are dispensed from two bins, so 'that when one bin is empty, anautomatic switch-over,v takes place to the next bin. These two bins areindicated in Fig. 1 by the two corresponding relays SCR and ICR. Insteadof operating the relay GCR directly from the key 2K, a group'relay IM inthe multiple unit `ImI..

IMU (Fig. 2) is operated, vwhen the key 2K is pressed, from earth viabreak contact lcI (Fig. 1), key 2K, lead I (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2), relay IMto battery. This relay closes its i'lve contacts Im. Over contact Imc acircuit is closed for the rela'yfBCR from earth via contact c2 (Fig.1),contact k2, lead 9 (Figs. 1 and 2), operated contact Im3, break contactIIsaZ, lead 'I (Figs. 1 and 2), make before break contact 6er,

` relay ECR to battery.' The relay BCR operates and closes a lockingcircuit over its contact 6er, trip contact GTC, relay CP, contact cI toearth. The operation ofrelayCP has the same effect as ,describedrecrearreelection of an micle via the key IK. Via the contact cpl` (Fig.2) a locking circuit forlthe relay IM is closed from earth via operatedcontact cpl, operated contact Imi, relay IM to battery. Thus the grouprelay iM remains operated evenafter the operator has released the key2K. While the key 2K is still depressed, the relay K (Fig. 1) is broughtup in the usualmanner to fulfil the same functions as described before.`The contact k2 breaks the circuit over lead 9 and the contacts Im3(Fig.` 2) and I Isa2, but this circuit is already interrupted at thecontact 6er (Fig. l). In case the bin is loaded with articles, thearticle released from the bin operates momentarily the trip contact BTCand thus restores the whole circuit to normal in the manner describedabove, the contact epfl (Fig. 2) interrupting the locking circuit of therelay IM thus releasing this relay in the multiple unit IMU. As therelay IM is a slow release relay as Will be explained later on, caremust be taken that the `relay K is kept operated until relay IM hasreleased, otherwise the bin relay eCR would be operated again, when thekey 2K is released. To keep relay K in the operated position until therelay IM has opened its contacts, a locking circuit for relay K isprovided from earth over Contact Im4 (Fig. 1) of relay iM, operatedcontact M, contact c3, relay K to battery.

If the bin represented by the relay SCR had been empty, the trip contactBTC' is not operated within a certain time period and thus the slowreleasing relay T (Fig. 2) is de-energized as the contact cp2 is heldopen for a longer time than the release period of this relay. The relayT therefore closes now its contacts tI and t2 which were normally heldopen by this relay. Contact t2 connects earth, in parallel to contactcpl, to the locking circuit of relay IM, so that this relay remainslocked when the relay CP releases.

ver contact tI a HS from earth via contact tI, operated contact Imz,contact IIsa3, relay IIS to battery. The relay I S closes its contactIIsI, but the relay HSA cannot operate in series with the relay I I S,because it is short-circuited over the contact tl. The closing of thecontact IIsZ operates the relay C from earth via contact IIsaIl,operated contact IIs2, relay C to battery. Relay C releases at itscontact cI (Fig. 1) the bin relay and the relay CP and at its contact c3the relay K. At the contact c2 the energising circuit for the relay SCRis interrupted as well so that this relay cannot operate again.

The busy lamp BS still lights up over the contact I m5. The furthercontact Imd of the relay iM puts earth on the lead from the key 2K torelay K when this relay is brought up again later on.

When relay CP has released as described above, relay 'I' is operatedagain over the contact cp2 (Fig. 2) and thus breaks its contacts tI andt2.

`The relay IM is a slow release relay so that this relay does not breakits contacts until such time that relay I ISA and the bin relay TCR andrelay CP have operated and the relay C has been de-energised. Thereforethe relay IM does not fall oit at the rst de-energising of relay CP,when relay T has been operated over the Contact e122 and has broken itscontact' t2.

As the earth is now removed at contact tI from the relay lis, the relayII SA can operate from earth via contact Ir, operated contact IIsI,relay II SA, relay IIS to battery. Relay IISA closes its contact IlsaIwhich prepares a circuit for a.

corresponding to the relay circuit is closed for the relay Afutureoperation of thefrelay IR, Contact IIsa2 switches over thusdisconnecting at lead 1 the bin relay BCR and connecting the lead 8 ofthe bin relay 7CR of the following bin over contact I2Sa2 with thecontact I m3 and lead 9. 'I'he contact Ilsa3 prepares a circuit fromcontact tII to relay IZS. Finally the contact Ilsad interrupts thecircuit for relay C which thus releases closing its contacts cI, c2, andc3.

As soon as contact c2 (Fig. 1) of relay C'v is closed again, a circuitis closed for the operation of the relay ICR from earth via contact c2,contact k2, lead 9 (Figs. 1 and 2), contact Im3, contact2 I Isa2,contact I 2sa2, lead 8, contact lcv' (Fig. 1), relay ICR to battery. Therelay TCR closes a locking circuit in the usual manner over contact ler,thus operating relay CP and re-establishing a locking circuit for relayIM over contact cpd.

When an article is now released from the bin TCR. the trip contact 'ICTis interrupted for a short moment, thus breaking `the locking circuitfor relay 'ICR and relay CP. At contact cp4 (Fig. 2) the locking circuitfor relay IM is interrupted so that this relay` releases after a shorttime. The relays IIS and II SA, however, remain operated in series overthe circuit described, so that when another selection is "made via thekey 2K and relay IM, a circuit is closed for the relay 'ICR from earthover contact c2 (Fig. 1), contact k2, lead 9 (Figs. 1 and 2), contactIm3, contact IIsa2, contact I2sa2, contact Ter, relay `ICR to battery.Thus it can be seen that now all the articles called up at the key 2Kare released from thesecond bin carrying these articles.

Provision is made to switch` the circuit back to the rst bin for this`kind ofarticle (which .is reloaded inthe meantime), whenever the bincorresponding to relay 'ICR is empty.

In case the trip contact 'ITC has not been operatecl within a certaintime period because the corresponding bin is empty, the T relay willoperate again in the manner described before. Over the contact tI acircuit is now established from earth Via contact tl, operated contactIm2, operated contact IIs`a3, contact I2sa3, relay IZS to battery sothat this relay operates and closes its contacts I 2sI and I2s2. ContactI2sI prepares a circuit for the relay, IZSA which however cannot operateyet as it is still short-circuited over the circuit operating the relayI 2S. Over the contact l2s2 relay C is operated again which, in themanner described above, breaks the contact for the relays `CP and `ICRat its contact cI (Fig/1). Over the, contactcpl (Fig. 2)` which closesagain when relayCP releases, relay T operates again and at contact ti`takes earth oii the connection between the relays IZS and I2SA.

Relay IZSA is now operated in series with relay I2S` from earth `overcontact Ir, contact I2SI, relay IZSA, relay I2S to battery. The relay I2SA disconnects the lead frorncontact tI at its contact I2sa3.Furthermore, it-interrupts lead 8 coming from the bin` relay 'ICR at itscontact I2sa2. At contact IZsdll` 4the circuit for the relay C isinterruDted again', so that` this relay de-energises closing itscontacts cl, c2, and c3.` Over the contact I2sa| a circuit is closedfrom earth via operated contact II'saI, operated contact IZsaI, relay IRto battery. This relay then operates its contact Ir interrupting thelocking circuits for the relays I I SA and I IS and the relays I 2SA and|25.` These relays de-energise and thus the whole circuit is nowreverted Vback to the release of articles from the bin represented bythe relay SCR. As soon as an article is now released from this bin inthe manner described above. the locking circuit for the relay IM isinterrupted as both contacts t2 and cpt are open and thus the circuit isready for the next selection.

Instead of having two bins only for the same kind of article which arealternatively called up for the release of these articles, any number ofbins can be used for the same kind of article which work them inrotation. The circuit is in principle the same as described so far withthe only exception that the relay train shown in the multiple unit IMUby the relays IIS, IISA and relays I2S and I2SA is enlarged adding twomore relays for each new bin.

A circuit of this kind is for example shown in connection with the key3K (Fig. l) which can select articles from four different bins indicatedby the relays ZCR, 3CR, ACR and SCR. The corresponding relay arrangementis shown in the multiple unit 2MU (Fig. 2) which includes the grouprelay 2M fulfilling the same functions as the relay IM in the multipleunit IMU, 'the relay 2R corresponding to relay IR and the enlarged relaytrain 2 IS, 2 ISA; 22S, 22SA; 23S, 23SA; 24S, MSA. The function of thisrelay train is the same as described before with the only exception thatthe relay 2R is only operated after all four relay groups have beenoperated instead of the two relay groups in the multiple unit IMU. Allthe relay contacts relating to the various relays are marked in the samemanner as in multiple unit IMU with the exception that the prefix ischanged from l to 2.

It may be mentioned, however, that when further multiple units have tobe added, an additional contact of each group relay M has to be added tothe busy lamp circuit as well as at the lead to the various keys inparallel to the contacts Imd, 2m4, and Im5, 2m5 respectively.

Although a separate multiple unit has to be provided for each group ofbins which shall work together operated from the same key, the timingcircuit is common to the whole system. The same relates to the cancelkey CK which is operated any time the operator wants to release thecircuit, either because the bin was empty and no other bin was providedwith the same kind of article or because he wants to cancel theselection before the article is delivered.

The invention described above shows one example only and it must beunderstood that many modifications are possible within the scope of thisinvention. It was already mentioned before that instead of'releasing thearticles by separate individual keys, a common keyboard can be providedand the articles or the respective bin mechanism can be selected in anyknown manner by stock numbers or codes keyed up on the keyboard. Insteadof using a slow release relay for the timing circuit a slow operatingrelay can be provided which in this case would be operated by a makecontact of common relay CP, or anyV other method to establish a timedelay in the switching operation can be used instead. Alternatively theoperation of the multiple unitsy can be controlled by manually operatedcontact means.

We claim:

1. In an article-dispensing system of the character described: a'groupof storage devices for storing articles of a given character, eachdevice including an electrically actuated releasing means fordischarging said articles therefrom, and electrical contact meansactuated. by discharge of said articles; switch-actuated selecting meansfor establishing a connection to energize the releasing Ameans of onesaid device; and electrical switching means Ifor automaticallytransferring said connection from said storage device if empty toanother of said storage devices containing said articles, said meansincluding a locking circuit for the releasing means of each device andcontaining the electrical contact means thereof, said contact means uponactuation interrupting said locking circuit; an energizing connectioncommon to all said locking circuits containing the winding of a firstrelay and contacts of a second relay; a slow release relay responsive tosaid first relay; further switching means including additional relaysindividual to said storage devices for actuating and releasing saidsecond relay in response to release and actuation, respectively, of saidslow release relay, and further contact means actuated by saidadditional relays for transferring said connection as aforesaid.

2. In an article-dispensing system of the character described: a groupof storage devices for storing articles of a given character, eachdevice including an electrically actuated releasing means fordischarging said articles therefrom, and electrical contact meansactuated by discharge of said articles; switch-actuated selecting meansfor establishing a connection to energize the releasing means of onesaid device; and electrical switching means for automaticallytransferring said connection from said storage device if empty toanother of said storage devices containing said articles, said meansincluding a locking circuit for the releasing means of each device andcontaining the electrical contact means thereof, said contact means uponactuation interrupting said locking circuit; an energizing connectioncommon to all said locking circuits containing the winding of a firstrelay and contacts of a second relay; a slow release relay responsive tosaid first relay; and further switching means including a pair ofserially connected relays for each storage device, for actuating andreleasing said second relay in response to release and actuationrespectively of said slow release relay, and further contact meansactuated by said relay pairs for transferring said connection asaforesaid.

3. In an article-dispensing System of the character described: a groupof storage devices for storing articles of a given kind, each deviceincluding an electrically actuated releasing means for successivelydischarging said articles; switchactuated group selecting meansincluding a slow release group relay, for establishing a connection toactuate the releasing means of one said storage device; and meansincluding contacts of said group relay for automatically switching saidconnection after predetermined time intervals step by step to thereleasing means of the remaining said devices in succession, saidautomatic switching meansl including a locking circuit for the releasingmeans of each device, a rst relay common to 'all said locking circuits,a slow release relay responsive to energization of said first relayy apair of serially connected relays for each said device and means forprogressively energizing the same in response to successive releases andenergizations of said slow release relay, a second relay and means forenergizing the Same in response to energization of one relay of eachsaid pair and for thereafter releasing the same in response toenergization of the other relay of each said pair, and means responsiveto energization of said second relay foropening said locking circuit andreleasing said iirst relay; and electrical contact lei means associated`with each saidzstorage device and interposed in saidlockingcircuits,said contact-means being arrangedin the path of articles released from acorresponding storage device and operable thereby Ito interruptthecircuit for a corresponding releasing means andl `to prevent furtheroperation of saidautomatic `switching means.

4. In an article-dispensingsystem of the charstorage device in aselected group; and electrical i switching means common to the storagedevices of each. said group forautomatically transferring saidconnectionfrom said storage device ifempty to another device of -saidselectedgroup containing said articles, said. means circuit for thereleasingmeansof each device and containing the electricalicontactmeansthereof, said contact means upon actuation interrupting said lockingcircuit; an energizing connection common to all said locking circuitscontaining the winding of a rstrelay and contacts of a second relay; aslow release relay responsive to said rst relay; means includingadditional relays individual to said storage devices Vand arranged incorresponding groups for actuatingand releasing said second relay inresponse to release and actuation, respectively, of said slowreleaserelay, `and further contact means actuated by said additional relays fortransferring said connection asaforesaid. v

5. In an article-dispensing system of the character described: aplurality of groups of storage devices, each group for storing articlesof a given character difieren-t from the others, each device includingan electrically actuated releasing means for releasing said articles andelectrical contact means actuated by discharge of said articles; aselecting mechanism including, for each said group, switching means anda group relay fol" establishing a connection to energize the releasingmeans of one storage device in a selected group; and electricalswitching means common to the storage devices of each said group forautomatically transferring said connection from said storage device ifempty to another device of said selected group containing said articles,said means including a locking circuit for the releasing means of eachdevice and containing the electrical contact means thereof, said contactmeans upon actuation interrupting said locking circuit; an energizingconnection common to all said 100king circuits containing the winding ofa rst relay and contacts of a second relay; a slow release relayresponsive to said first relay; and means including a pair of seriallyconnected relays for each storage device and being arranged incorresponding groups, for actuating and releasing said second relay inresponse to release and actuation respectively of said slow releaserelay, and further contact means actuated by said relay pairs fortransferring said connection as aforesaid.

6. In an article-dispensing system of the character described: a groupof Storage devices for storing articles of a given character, eachdevice including an electrically actuated releasing means fordischarging said articles therefrom; switch including a locking 1actuated selecting means and electrical connections therefromselectively'connectable with said releasing means to energizethereleasing means of one said device; switching means common to said groupof storage devices and including a timing device and electricalconnections therefrom to said switch-actuated selecting means and eachof said releasing meansto transfer said first mentioned electricalconnectionsafter a predetermined time interval from one releasing meansto the following releasing `means and contact means ass ciated with eachsaid storage device, and electrical connections therefrom to saidreleasing means and to said timing device, said contact means beingoperable upon the release of each article from any ofthe storage devicesof saidv group to deenergize the corresponding releasing meansand torestore said timing device to its original position.

7. In an article-dispensing system of the character described:` a groupof storage devices for storing articles of a given character, eachdevice including an electrically actuated releasing means fordischarging said articles therefrom; switchactuated selectingmeansincluding a group relay having a plurality of contacts operated therebyand electrical connections therefrom selectively connectable with saidreleasing means to eneri gize the releasing means of one said device;

switchingmeans common to said group of storage devices andincluding atiming device and electrical connections therefrom to said contacts ofsaid group relay land said releasing means to transfer said firstmentioned electrical connections` after a predetermined time intervalfrom one `releasing means to the following releasing means; andl contactmeans associated with each said storage device and electricalconnections therefrom to saidl releasing means and tosaid timing deviceand being operable upon the release of each article from any of thestorage devices of said group to deenergize the corresponding releasingmeans and to restore said timing device to its original position.

8. In an article-dispensing system of the character described: a groupof storage devices for storing articles of a given kind, each deviceincluding an electrically actuated releasing means for successivelydischarging said articles; switchactuated group selecting meansincluding a slow release group relay, for establishing a connection toactuate the releasing means of one said storage device; means includingcontacts of said group relay for automatically switching said connectionafter predetermined time intervals step by step to the releasing meansof the remaining said devices in succession, said automatic switchingmeans including a locking circuit for the releasing means of eachdevice, a first relay common to all said locking circuits, a slowrelease relay responsive to energisation of said first relay, a pair ofserially connected relays for each said device and means forprogressively energising the same in response to successive releases andenergisations of said slow release relay, a second relay and means forenergising the same in response to energisation of one relay of eachsaid pair and for thereafter releasing the same in response toenergisation of the other relay of each said pair, and means responsiveto energisation of said second relay for opening said locking circuitand releasing said iirst relay; further means for automaticallyswitching said connection after a predetermined time interval from thereleasing means of the last of said devices il back to the releasingmeans of the first of said devices, said further means including areleasing relay, an operating circuit adapted to operate said releasingrelay on operation of all said pairs of serially connected relays, andcontacts of said releasing relay adapted on operation thereof to lrelease all said pairs of serially connected relays; and electricalcontact means associated with each said storage device and interposed insaid locking circuits, said contact means being arranged in the path ofarticles released from a corresponding storage device and operablethereby to interrupt the circuit for a corresponding releasing means andto prevent further operation of said automatic switching means.

9. In an article dispensing system of the character described: aplurality of groups of storage devices, each group for storing articlesof a given character different from the others, each device including anelectrically actuated releasing means for discharging said articlestherefrom; switch-actuated group selecting means, including a slowrelease group relay for each of said groups of storage devices, forestablishing a connection to actuate the releasing means of one storagedevice of any of said groups; means for each of said groups of storagedevices, including contacts of the corresponding group relay, forautomatically switching said connection after predetermined timeintervals step by step to the releasing means of the remaining saiddevices of the corresponding group in succession, said automaticswitching means including a locking circuit for the releasing means ofeach device, a iirst relay common to all said locking circuits, a slowrelease relay responsive to energisation of said first relay, a pair ofserially connected relays for each said device and means forprogressively energising the same in response to successive releases andenergisations of said slow release relay, asecond relay and means forenergising the same in response to energisation of one relay of eachsaid pair and for thereafter releasing the same in response toenergisation of said second relay for opening said locking circuit andreleasing said first relay; further means for each of said groups ofstorage devices for automatically switching said connection after apredetermined time interval from the releasing means of the last of saiddevices back to the releasing means of the first of said devices, saidfurther means including a. releasing relay, an operating circuit adaptedto operate said releasing relay on operation of all said pairs ofserially connected relays, and contacts of said releasing relay adaptedon operation thereof to release all said pairs of serially connectedrelays; and electrical contact means associated with each said storagedevice and interposed in said locking circuits, said contact means beingarranged in the path of articles released from a corresponding storagedevice and operable thereby to interrupt the circuit for a correspondingreleasing means and to prevent further operation of said automaticswitching means.

THOMAS SAMUEL SKILLMAN. PETER LINCOLN LAW.

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